Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ16: Food samples taken for testing

     Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 24):

 

Question:

 

     The number of food samples taken by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) for microbiological and chemical testing each year reduced progressively from some 58,000 in 2000 to some 53,000 in last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

 

(a)  of the specific criteria adopted for selecting the categories of food items for testing;

 

(b)  of the basis for determining the number of food samples taken for testing each year, and whether manpower and other resources have been taken into consideration;

 

(c)  whether it has reviewed the adequacy of the manpower in the FEHD responsible for such work; and

 

(d)  whether it will consider increasing the FEHD's manpower in this respect and the number of food samples taken for testing; if so, of the details of such consideration; if not, the reasons for that?

 

Reply:

 

(a)  The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's (FEHD) Food Surveillance Programme is a key component of the Department's food safety assurance programme. Under the programme, FEHD takes food samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for microbiological and chemical testing. The sampling strategy is risk-based. In addition to foods with specific standards stipulated in the law, particular attention is paid to sample foods such as those implicated in previous food poisoning outbreaks, food safety incidents, or those being manufactured by or sold in previously convicted food premises. FEHD will also conduct checks on foods which are subjects of public complaint or public concern.

 

(b)  The number of food samples taken by FEHD for testing is decided on the basis of population size, with a target of testing eight samples for every 1,000 people in Hong Kong every year, making a total of about 54,000 samples. This target has been consistently achieved.

 

(c)  The existing manpower of FEHD is sufficient to cope with the relevant food surveillance work. We will continue to monitor the manpower situation.

 

(d)  FEHD, by adopting a risk-based approach and referring to the latest developments in food risk analyses conducted overseas and locally, determines the priority and the number of food samples taken for testing. To address the public concern on food safety, starting from October this year, FEHD will take some 500 additional samples each month for testing for a period of one year. FEHD will then review the situation.

 

Ends/Wednesday, November 24, 2004

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